The psychometric validation of the geriatric suicide ideation scale in Latinx older adults

Suicide rates in older adults are elevated compared to the general population. There are limited assessment measures designed specifically to assess both suicide ideation (SI) and death ideation (DI) in older adults. The Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale (GSIS) was developed as a measure sensitive to the manifestation of SI in older adults. The GSIS has demonstrated strong psychometric properties in a variety of settings, but further psychometric research in more diverse racial, ethnic, and clinical settings is needed. By 2028, Latinx older adults are expected to be the largest racial and ethnic minority among adults aged 65 and older (Talamantes & Sanchez-Reilly, 2010). Despite the growing population of Latinx older adults, few studies have evaluated SI and DI in this population. In order to better understand the rates of SI and DI in this population, the assessment measures used to assess suicide risk in older adults, such as the GSIS, need to be validated in Latinx older adults. The current study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the GSIS in 133 community-dwelling Latinx older adults. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, but did not replicate the GSIS four-factor structure due to low variability in response items. A four-item GSIS model was determined to have adequate fit, but is likely not representative of SI in Latinx older adults. Measurement invariance hypotheses were assessed for sex, but unable to be formally assessed for age and education due to low response variability. Omega was calculated to determine the internal consistency of the four-item GSIS model. Convergent validity was assessed via Pearson’s correlation. Criterion validity and a clinical cut-score were determined through receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses. Overall, findings suggest that the GSIS may not be an empirically useful assessment of SI in the current sample of community-dwelling Latinx older adults. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.